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Axel H. Arriola

  • Biodiversity Journal, 12 (4): 0811-0823

    Shiela L. Vidallon & Axel H. Arriola
    A Preliminary Checklist of Vascular Plants in Tarak Ridge trail of Mt. Mariveles, Bataan, Philippines
    https://doi.org/10.31396/Biodiv.Jour.2021.12.4.811.823

    ABSTRACT
    Mount Mariveles is a potentially active stratovolcano and is one of the remaining forests in Bataan province that is under threat due to different anthropogenic factors. A checklist is essential for it and it will give baseline information on the species and their conservation status. This study aimed to provide a preliminary checklist of vascular plants at Tarak ridge (Mariveles trail) in Mt. Mariveles, Bataan. A belt transect was established at Tarak ridge trail from 400 meters above sea level (m asl) to 1000 m asl. Each transect has three plots of 10 m x 10 m. A total of 80 species belonging to 50 families and 74 genera were documented in this study. Poaceae family had the most numbered genera. Of the 80 flora species inventoried, 35 are shrubs, trees are 17, herbs are 14, 11 are epiphytes and 3 are vines. Among the 80 recorded flora, five species were endemic in the Philippines. Only three species were assessed for their conservation status based in IUCN categories and were assessed as Least concern. Two endemic species from Rubiaceae family, the Psychotria luzoniensis (Cham. & Schltdl.) Fern.-Vill was assessed as Least Concern while Psychotria rubiginosa Elmer ex Merr was originally assessed as Near-threatened but in a recent study it was assessed as Data Deficient (DD).

  • Biodiversity Journal, 10 (1): 037-046

    Marlon dL. Suba, Axel H. Arriola & Grecebio Jonathan D. Alejandro
    A preliminary checklist of vascular plants of Mt. Arayat National Park, Pampanga, Philippines
    https://doi.org/10.31396/Biodiv.Jour.2019.10.1.37.46

    ABSTRACT
    The Mt. Arayat National Park (MANP) is one of the oldest national parks and protected areas in the Philippines. However, very few published studies have been carried out despite its speculated high potential of biodiversity. Therefore, this paper intends to provide a preliminary checklist of vascular plants in MANP with emphasis on their conservation status. Several floristic surveys were conducted in the South and North peaks of MANP. A total of 98 species belonging to 92 genera and 43 families were identified. Of them, Leguminosae was the largest family which contributed 10 species, followed by Euphorbiaceae and Moraceae with 7 species each. The most dominated genera were: Ficus with 3 species, and Artocarpus, Litsea, and Macaranga with 2 species each. Based on IUCN criteria and DENR records, a total of 10 species were threatened while only 8 were least concern and the rest were not evaluated. Among those threatened plants, Cycas riuminiana was the most notable due to its endemicity in MANP. The slash-and-burn farming was one the several threats witnessed in the mountain. Thus, this checklist is vital as it provides a scientific information on MANP’s plant diversity and distribution which is a useful starting point for further ecological and bio-prospective research in the area.